US stocks closed down

U.S. stocks closed down Friday, as the Dow ended modestly lower following a surprise drop in a measure of consumer confidence. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 25.03, or 0.17 percent, to 14,514.11. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 2.53, or 0.16 percent, to 1,560.70. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 9.86, or 0.30 percent, to 3,249.07. The dollar weakened against the euro, the pound, and the yen. Light sweet crude oil for April delivery gained 42 cents to $93.45 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold futures moved up $1.90 to $1,592.60 an ounce.